318 FLUSHING book III
been
much more happy during the voyage. At once, without another word, they
alt jumped into the boats and went on shore, where they received many
kisses and embraces, and immediately all hastened to the public-house.
Most of the soldiers and sailors first go there after their
debarkation, and generally they do not leave it save to claim their
baggage or receive their pay, or to join a party. Some of these
soldiers and sailors returning from India have been known to expend, in
two months' continual debauch, nearly 1,000 ecus, which they had had
much trouble in earning in fifteen or twenty years' service to the
Company. I have known a sailor at Middelburg, who in a debauch broke
glass to the value of 250 livres, when drinking the health of his
friends. But the publicans do not receive all the money of these
people, as the women of pleasure get their share of it too.
The
two Directors of the Company, who came on board as soon as the anchor
was cast, to give permission to the crew to go on shore, and appoint
persons for the protection of the vessel, did me the honour to salute
me at once, and I received many expressions of kindness from them. They
ordered a collation to be served at the same time, and, drinking to my
health, asked me if I had anything to complain of with regard to any of
the officers of the vessel. I replied that on the contrary I had every
reason to praise them, that they had all treated me with great
civility, and that I gave thanks to the Vice-Admiral, to the captain,
and to all the merchants of the vessel for the good friendship they had
shown me during the voyage. For it should be stated that besides the
Vice-Admiral we had a captain under him. The Directors told me that
they were much pleased that I was satisfied with the treatment I had
received, telling me that if I had any chests I had only to place my
mark on them, and that they would take care to have them carried to the
Company's House at Middelburg, where I might come to claim them in four
days. It required fully this time for them to discharge a part of what
was in the vessel, which could not reach MiddelÂburg with a full cargo.
I thanked them for their goodwill, and, having placed my mark on my
chests, left the vessel and went by land to Middelburg.
